Kenya hospital sued for detaining Congolese girl

from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) - A CONGOLESE man is suing a Kenyan hospital for allegedly detaining his child over an unpaid bill of Sh284 000 (R40 700).
Prince Lingo, the complainant, argues his young daughter, Fathouma, is at risk of contracting more diseases under unlawful detention at Nairobi
Women’s Hospital.
She was hospitalised for an undisclosed illness on July 15 but was supposed to be discharged on July 24, according to the father’s statement.
Authorities at the hospital allegedly refused to discharge her after the family managed to raise slightly half of the bill.
Lingo alleged the health centre declined his offer to pay the outstanding amount in installments over two months.
He is thus demanding compensation for the time the daughter has allegedly been forcibly kept at the hospital.
Comment could not be obtained from authorities.
The Nairobi Women’s Hospital has an unenviable record.
In May, the High Court ordered the hospital to pay Sh54 million (R7,7million) to a mother and her child, now aged 11, for negligence
during childbirth, which led to the child developing celebral palsy.
–CAJ News